Screw cap jar wrench



June 13, 1933. Ji R, SWENSON 1,913,906

SCREW CAP JAR WRENCH Filed March '7, 1932 INVENTOR .Z2/m 6. faz/mfg ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 19,33

PATENT OFFICE JOHN R. SWENSN', 0F PORTLAND, OREGON SCREW CAPJAB WRENCH application ma 'hun 1 The object of-my invention is to provide a wrench for unscrew' the covers vor caps of preserving jars, bott es and similar containers, such wrench to be adapted toy be easily applied and effective in its operation. j In my opinion it is not always convenient to use a jar wrench which must be threaded on the cover to be removed.`

The primary objection to such type of wrench is, it is not suitable for operating on covers of all diameters.

When used on a cover of substantially smaller diameter, the mere compression of the wrench to contract its diameter to that of the cover frequently is not suiiicient to give the hand the required hold, because' the threads provided on the interior periphery of the wrench extend in the same line as that of the rotary motion applied to the wrench 2 in unscrewing the cover of the jars, and therefore insuiicient frictional resisting-area is interposed by the Wrench.

I have discovered that instead the interior periphery of the wrench wall should be provided with closely'and definitely spaced gripping ribs projecting inward a substantial distance and extending parallel to the axis of the wrench body, thus traversing the line of rotary motion necessarily applied to the Wrench in unscrewing a cover; and these ribs should. have relatively broad faces, and be spaced and proportioned so as to be adapted to permit their flexing in either direction by pressing by the hand on the cover, thus increasing the contacting surfaces and friction hold of the ribs on the cover.

When operating a Wrench constructed in accordance with my invention, the grip ex'- erted by said interior ribs causes them to flatten out and increase the frictional area imposed by the wrench on the cover proportionately to the force exerted by the hand in compressing the wrench on the cover while unscrewing the latter.`

By reason of this principle of operation of my wrench.. it may be effectively used on covers of widely varying diameters; also for removing the screw caps from the necksof 50 bottles. v

An incidental advantage of my mvention 1888. Serial No. 587,185.

is, my wrench does not have tol be threaded on the cover to be removed, but may be readily applied b merely pressing the wrench on and then orcing 1t over the cover.

The details of construction of my invention are hereinafter fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:`

l Fig. 1 shows a plan view of my ar wrench illustrating its annular form an the relative. arrangement of the gripping ribs;

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the same;

Flg. 3 shows my jar wrench in section mounted over the top of a fruit jar cover;

Fig. 4 shows a fragmentary section taken a on the line 4 of Fig. 3 and illustrates the gripplng action ofthe said ribs upon the jar cover;

Fig. 5 illustrates how m jarwrench is used to remove a screw cap rom a bottle,.the 7 cap of which is of substantially smaller diameter than a fruit jar cover;

Fig. 6 shows a section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig: 5 and further illustrateshow my wrench 1s used for removing the screw caps of small bottles; and

Fig. 7 illustrates how my jar wrench is adapted for use as a jar holder.

With reference to the figures, my jar wrench comprises an annular or rin -like so body a having walls a of substantial t ickness and constructed'of flexible resilient material, preferably of Arelatively soft rubber. The body a is provided at' the crown with a narrow interior flange b, servingv to facilitate the lacement of the wrench on the cover of the jar. Said ange being adapted to leave a large central opeenin thus permittin the wrench body to de ormed so 'as to ring opposlte wall portions closer together. 9-

Ihe interior face a of the wall of the body a 1s (provided with closely but definitely space relatively broad, inwardly projecting grlppmg ribs c extending parallel to the axis ofthe cover. The ribs c are closely but defin1tely spaced, the spacing and proportioning of the ribs `c being adapted to permit their flexing in either direction by pressing with the hand on the cover, thereby to facilitate the application of my wrench to a cover of 'A the hand.-

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The body a is preferably constructed of such size as to iit overthe screw cover 2 oit a standard ruitjar 3 and when used for removing such cover is grasped rmly by the hand so as to bring the gripping faces d 'et the ribs cinto close contact with cover 2, and

then is rotated, and because of the grippin action of the ribs c on the ,-cover as illustrate in Fig. 4, and the slightly yielding nature A the jar z'. When used in this manner it also' of the body a providing a good hand-hold,

, the cover 2 will rotate with my Wrench and thus be removed. 0f course my wrench may also be used for tightening the cover on the jar, when desired, by merely reversing the direction of rotation.

Further, my Wrench is adapted for removing covers or caps of smaller diameter. For, assuming, as in Fig. 5, the screw cap 4 of a bottle 5 is to be removed, which has a substantially smaller diameter than a fruit. jar cover, in this vevent'the body a: oi my wrench is grasped, as shown in Fig. 5, and one end is placed over the cap d and opposite wall portions are held closely against its sides by the pressure of the hand, so that the gripping ribs c are thus engaged with the cap 4,

as shown in Fig. 6.- This use ot my wrench is facilitated by the large central opening provided in the crown of my wrench. Then by rotating the wrench and using the extending portion somewhat as a lever, the cap will rotate with the wrench and thus be removed.

While my device is described as a jar wrench, it may be readily used for holding and handling the jar vwhile hot or while placing or removing the cover, by making it of the required diameter, as illustrated at fr, in Fig. 7 and placingv the same on the bottom of serves to prevent the'jar from breaMng when placed on the tile' drainboard of a sink or the like.

li claim:

l. A j ar cover wrench consisting of a ringlilre body of material exible by hand pressure, the body provided on the interior with closely but definitely spaced relatively broad gripping ribs projecting a substantial distance inward, parallel to the axis of the body, the spacing and proportioning of the ribs being adapted to permit their flexing laterally in either direction by pressure on the cover, thereby toffacilitate application to a cover of about the same 'size and to increase the contacting surface and friction hold of tions tobe brought in close relation for encovers of smaller diameter.

gaging l 3. jar cover wrench consistinglof a ring- 'like bodyof material flexible by and pressure2 provided at the crown with a narrow internal ange-like projection adapted to leave a large central opening, the body provided on the interior with closely but definitely spaced relatively broad gripping ribs royecting a substantial distance inward,

parallel to the axis of the body, the spacing and proportioning of the ribs being adapted to ypermit their flexing laterally in either direction by. pressure on the` cover, thereby to facilitate application to a cover of about the same-size and to increase .the contacting surface land friction hold of the ribs;` and-to provide on reversing rotation'a toggle block action, thelarge central spacing being adapted 4to permit opposite wall portions to be brought in close relation for engaging-covers of smaller diameter.

JOHN R. SWENSON.

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